Orrick is an innovative firm, and the people who work there are collegial. Most are very respectful of one another. It's a friendly environment where employee opinions matter. Work/life balance. Women and LBGT Community awareness and focus. Pro Bono and Community Volunteer activities. Associate and staff salaries are competitive. Alternative Work Arrangements and flexible work schedules available for many positions. Business casual dress with jeans on Fridays, year-end and other times throughout the year. Fun activities and events. Hot breakfast once a month.

Cons

Culture shift from California (casual, comrade) to New York (business, bottom-line ) frame of mind. All decisions must be approved by decision-makers instead of allowing competent personnel to make daily decisions. Skewed staff compensation model in Wheeling. Some get paid very well and others get paid below market. Some positions have limited growth potential, but it is similar to other employers.

Advice to ManagementAdvice

Find a happy middle ground, set goals and provide directives then allow employees to do their jobs (including making rationale decisions).

Orrick is full of incredibly intelligent people who genuinely care about each other. The firm is focused on developing and retaining their top talent. The benefits options are extensive and the pay definitely keeps up with the marketplace. The firm is committed to giving back through pro bono work and community service activities. The Chairman has made significant strides towards transparency and shares information regularly with attorneys and staff. The firm recognizes that everyone contributes to the success of Orrick and provides a lot of opportunities to celebrate together through events, happy hours, staff appreciation week, and regular group activities outside of the workplace. A lot of jobs are flexible enough to allow for working remotely.

Cons

The departments work very independently of one another and will often times step on each other when pursuing an initiative. Communication is improving, but it is still a challenge. Investments are sometimes times delayed at the expense of productivity and personal development.